31 March 2015

Why supermarkets should stock the real Easter eggs

The Archbishop of York is encouraging major supermarkets to reconsider stocking the Real Easter Egg produced by the Meaningful Chocolate Company.

Archbishop Dr John Sentamu said: "With a million Real Easter Eggs sold I am delighted that Morrisons, Tesco and Waitrose have met the challenge. I call on Sainsbury's, Asda, and the Co-operative to give their customers the same choice."

The Meaningful Chocolate Company have been disappointed that Asda, Co-op and Sainsbury's have decided not to sell them this year, despite two stocking them last year.

The egg tells the Easter story and aims to remind people that Jesus is the reason for the celebration. The Fairtrade product features a leaflet telling the story of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus and an activity pack and a text from the gospel of Mark and is now in its fifth year.

The Real Easter Egg was voted the UK's favourite Fairtrade Easter Egg in a national poll in 2014. It is the UK's top-selling mail order egg and the UK's only charity egg. Some stockists have sold out.

David Marshall from the Meaningful Chocolate Company said: "Out of 80 million easter eggs it is important that at least one mentions Jesus and tells the Easter story. We need to put back into Easter the message of faith.

"For decades there had been no opportunity to stock something like this and it is really good that Tesco, Waitrose and Morrison's can see that their customers want the choice."

By Easter this year the Meaningful Chocolate Company will have helped raise more than £180,000 for charities through sales of its eggs, advent calendars and similar confectionery.

David continued: "The money spent on these eggs helps some of the poorest families on the planet. It tastes good but it also does good. We should celebrate that, in this, what we buy can reflect our values and make a difference."

With the ignorance surrounding the Christian meaning of Easter with only 12 per cent of people surveyed mentioning Jesus when asked about Easter, many Christians are keen for the Easter story to be recognised with this product and see it as an outreach opportunity.

Real Easter Eggs are available online through Traidcraft, TLM and Eden.A string of local independent retailers are stocking the eggs aswell as Tesco, Waitrose and Morrison's.